A moment on stage that changed everything.
Loukian, Enfant Soleil 2021, was invited to take the stage at Les Toqués in 2023 to share his story. At just 11 years old, speaking in front of hundreds of people was a huge challenge, an experience filled with stress that ultimately became a true revelation.
His mom shares the story:
Loukian was supposed to go on stage with Alain Dumas. At first, he had a few lines to say that we had practiced at home. He knew them by heart. But with the stress of speaking in front of people, once we arrived at Les Toqués, the atmosphere felt a bit charged.
Alain was doing microphone tests and asked Loukian if he wanted to try. Loukian said yes. He went up on stage, did a quick test, said a few words, then came back down a little stressed, sticking very close to me. I asked him what was wrong, and he told me he wished he had been able to practice a full sentence.
So we asked Alain if he could interact with him, and Alain said yes, gladly. Loukian went back on stage, and this time he delivered his line in such a natural way, with incredible ease. It was the first time he had ever spoken into a microphone in front of an audience, and I was left speechless. The team was impressed too.
When he went on stage in front of 200 or 300 people, he was completely at ease. He knew his lines, and at one point, he even went off script to make a joke with Alain Dumas. After the show, everyone came to tell us how good he had been, so natural and funny. Even Julie Snyder, who was there, came over to congratulate him.
He was so proud of himself. When we got back to the room, he said to me, “Did you see how good I was, Mom?” It was truly a powerful moment. Loukian doesn’t often get the chance to be recognized for his strengths, and that night, he truly shone. He’s a child for whom that kind of recognition is rare, because at that age, we tend to value athletic or academic performance most and those aren’t necessarily his strengths. But there, he found a space where he could really express himself and be valued.
After Les Toqués, we talked about it again, and he told me how much he had loved it and how much fun he had. I asked him if he might be interested in drama classes. He gave a little nervous laugh, but I told him how impressed I was. There was a clear before and after. He seemed confident, at ease. So we looked into a dramatic arts program, and he really connected with it. We practiced for his audition together, working on intonation and expression, and he grew more confident. When he came back from the audition, he told me, “Honestly, I was really good.” That’s something he very rarely says.
He wasn’t shy at all, even though there were four people in the room. Usually there are 20 or 30, but it didn’t bother him. Speaking in front of people didn’t stress him anymore. He was comfortable, happy with his audition, and convinced he would be accepted into the drama program and that’s exactly what happened.
It’s truly thanks to Les Toqués that he realized he was capable of speaking in front of people without fear. It made a real difference in his journey. Instead of going into a regular program, often focused on sports or academic results, he found a field that truly suits him.
As for his future interests, Loukian often talks about becoming a YouTuber or a video game programmer, since those are his two great passions. He has also mentioned wanting to be a sports commentator, but since he can’t really play sports, that interests him a bit less. For now, he’s leaning toward content creation or game development. We’ll see how that evolves over time.”
Thanks to events like Les Toqués and thanks to your support, children like Loukian can experience moments that change everything. Moments when fear gives way to pride, doubt turns into confidence, and a future full of possibilities opens up.
Your generosity doesn’t just create unforgettable moments. It helps children believe in themselves, discover their strengths, and shine today and for years to come.